French Parliament Approves 2026 Budget Amid Political Turmoil

On February 3, according to Jin10, the French Parliament passed the 2026 budget plan following Prime Minister Le Corny's successful navigation through two no-confidence votes. This development marks the end of months-long political unrest that had shaken investor confidence in France's economy. The censure motion proposed by far-left members of the National Assembly garnered 260 votes, falling short of the 289 votes needed to overthrow the minority government and reject the budget. Another motion from the far-right received only 135 votes and also failed to pass. Prime Minister Le Corny and his government secured victory after making several concessions, resulting in reduced spending cuts and tax increases compared to previous proposals. Consequently, this year's fiscal deficit, projected at 5%, will exceed the initial plan. Le Corny managed to avoid the fate of his predecessors, who were forced to resign due to disagreements with the National Assembly over austerity measures.